[panda]Pandas draw visitors at Tokyo exhibition
Posted:2007-6-7|Source:China Daily|No. of Views:
By Pan Pan
The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation in Tokyo, Japan, is hosting a three-month exhibition entitled "Science News! Asia -The Power of Asia, The Power of Science."
The focus of the exhibition, which started on June 2 and runs until September 2, is focusing on Asian development, environmental issues, Asian culture as well as ongoing scientific research in Asian countries and regions.
One of these research projects is the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. It's the world's only base of its kind established in a large city, and it was invited to display its accomplishments in giant panda research.
"Chengdu is the international academic center of research on giant panda breeding and preservation. It is also a top attraction for sightseeing," said Yamaguchi Mika, a medical doctor from the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation.
"We Japanese love giant pandas very much, and we take great pleasure in inviting the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding to be one of the exhibitors, in hopes that it will introduce to visitors the situation of endangered giant pandas as well as the efforts and achievements the research center has made," she said.
The 50-square-meter exhibition hall of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding attracted thousands of spectators on June 2.
At the stand, videos show visitors the state of giant pandas, from their living situation in Chengdu to artificial insemination conducted by the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.
Vincent Blech, a visitor from France, said, "Pandas are really lovely. Countless people all over the world love pandas. It's great that Chengdu is the hometown of pandas."
As a panda fan herself, Yamagutimika said that it took her and her colleagues six months to prepare for this exhibition.
"We are so pleased our hard work has paid off as we see a lot of people are waiting in a long queue to visit the pandas," she said.
A Japanese family of four in the exhibition hall of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding was ecstatic to see the black-and-white animals.
"My son is very happy at the sight of giant pandas at the zoo, so we took him to the exhibition hall to learn more about giant pandas," said Tokunaga Yoshihiro, a Japanese visitor.
Tokunagayoshihiro only knew that pandas were from China. On learning that Chengdu is the hometown of giant pandas and has many of these creatures, he said, "We will find an opportunity to visit Chengdu, hometown of giant pandas."
